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It’s impolite to gloat, but we called the introduction of the Chevrolet Trax back in March. It’s nice to be right once in a while.
Using the same underpinnings and 1.4L drivetrain as the Buick Encore, the Trax will go up against the Jeep Renegade, Nissan Juke, Honda Vezel and other entrants in the subcompact crossover segment. The Korean-made Trax is already on sale in Canada, starting at about $17,000 USD. That price probably won’t change much when it comes to America. Though versions with AWD and more equipment will get pricier.
52 Comments on “New York 2014: Chevrolet Makes Trax With New B-Segment Crossover...”
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If anything like the Encore, it’s made in Korea with a high percentage of Chinese parts. I’ll pass. “Made in America” takes another hit in the chin, this time by a company that largely owes it’s existence to the American people. It’ll sell well, though…
The Trax is built in Korea and Mexico, the latter of which seems to be the likely source for US models.
….. and TTAC is actually proud of themselves for calling this one ? I mean … seriously . Predicting the Down grading of the DaeWoo/Buick Encore to Chevy status was pretty much stating the Obvious .
e.g. Only a fool didn’t see this one coming a mile away .
As to Tomifobia’s comment ; Well good sir … if you think things are bad now with Chinese / Vietnamese / Korean / Cambodian / Thai built cars being sold as Made in America
Just wait till Obama’s pet project … the TPP [ Trans Pacific Partnership ] .. which is the Pacific Rim equivalent of NAFTA is passed . All bets are … it will … and when it does … American Automotive Manufacturing will no doubt come to its final end .
Tomifobia – Your list is missing ; China / Vietnam / Cambodia .. all of which contribute parts and/or entire assemblies to the Trax/Encore/Daewoo’s manufacture .
The key phrase you are missing being ; Assembled in Mexico/Korea . Manufactured thru out the Pacific Rim
With then GM having the cojones to pass it off as …. American .
Oh BWTM . Seen the % of Chinese content in the new Silverado ? Hey hey … Its not exactly ‘ American ‘ either once all is revealed . Fact is … the Toyota Tundra … built in Texas … has a higher % of US sourced parts than the Silverado does
Ahhh … GM … Con Artists from the beginning . And Con Artists till the very end … no doubt
Geez, who peed on your Wheaties this morning?
This morning? This is his regular bit.
So what’s the percentage? Along with a link for proof. I actually do know what it is so let’s see how close (more likely far) off you are.
Forget it, I already know what you are going to say. Something about one of the websites out there that tracks percentage of US content and because they default to the worst case and the Silverado does have a plant in Mexico, the percentage is low and you assume that all of those are Chinese parts.
I just looked at every purchased part on the K2 Program and there were about 50 of 1,500 parts from China = 3%
Other than that, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs Lincoln?
Are you saying if the Trax was assembled in America from 100% American parts, you wouldn’t pass?
Norm will be so pleased that a Buick was so well received that they made it a Chevy
“Bowtie tune” available?
Won’t the tune for the Buick work on the Chevy? I would imagine everything else will
No, the difusium crystals that power the Trifecta tune only work with Buicks. For a Chevrolet, you need just the right combination of:
– essence of Apple Pie
– Pine tar
– Doris Day soundtrack
– wizardry.
The Encore’s OS changed slightly from the Cruze/Sonic. Luckily Vince, ex-Microsoft employee, writes his own code and was able to changes to the reading/flashing software. Send your log and he’ll return an engine and transmission tune that impresses.
In all seriousness I decided to check out the website of the company that does these “trifecta” tunes. It is apparently called a “trifecta tune” across the board for all the applications of the GM 1.4 turbo. The thing that made me laugh was the claim that their programming would allow “full throttle upshifts” on the manual transmission models of the Cruze.
Perhaps that’s where the issues with half-shaft strength are coming from?
I just wish GM were smart enough to figure out how to get these two engineers on the payroll so they could offer vehicles that get so much power, reliability and economy from their engines right out of the factory.
Either that, or maybe they can go back in time and buy SAAB so they can figure out how to engineer a vehicle that gets 50 MPG, tows the Valdeez and hits 0-60 in 3 seconds flat, with the in-laws in the back seat on the way home from Ikea.
“Either that, or maybe they can go back in time and buy SAAB so they can figure out how to engineer a vehicle that gets 50 MPG, tows the Valdeez and hits 0-60 in 3 seconds flat, with the in-laws in the back seat on the way home from Ikea”
That’s so subtle, I can tell if you’re joking or serious. Well played.
Well lets remember – pre-BK GM was offering GMPP Stage 1 tunes on the Cobalt and HHR SS, the Saturn SKY Redline, and the Solstice GXP.
The Stage 1 tune came with a full factory warranty, cost under $700 and turned the 2.0L DI turbo four into a 300 HP/340 lb. ft. torque (in the RWD Solstice/SKY) beast. Premium fuel required.
Poop! With the smaller 17″ rubber it might not outhandle a CX-5 like the Encore does. ;)
At least with Trifecta it run with co-worker’s V8 Silverado right up to his 99 mph limiter like my Encore does(about 90+ mph 1/4 mile). The car is a real hoot in the sweepers and will be the highest highway fuel economy of any gasoline AWD.
You won’t be happy until that 1.4 blows right through your hood. I hope someone gets a youtube video of it
Trifecta does over 100,000 miles of validity testing along with nowing turbos at sea level have reserve for when going to higher elevation, I’ve only had to tap into the extra power a few times in 8,000 miles of using the tune.
Just 2 more days till I hit the NYAS!!!
These things remind me of a cardboard cutout. Not bad looking from the side, but head-on so narrow they look wobbly just sitting parked. Perhaps they’re like the old London double-decker buses – impossibly tall but able to traverse a 30 degree slope sideways without tipping over. You just have to hire an intrepid stunt driver to verify the napkin scribblings.
LOL! Well said…
Honda HR-V/Vezel, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade…are these all in the same class? I like ’em, and it’s nice to have choices. A little practical cargo space, enough for supermarket and Target. Easy to drive and park. When can we expect the Ford Ecosport in U.S.?
“When can we expect the Ford Ecosport in U.S.?”
Been thinking the same thing; though the Europeans found it to be cheap; Americans probably even more so.
Small footprint, seats four, good luggage space, low purchase price, relatively straightforward drivetrain…sounds like the formula for a perfect rental car.
Good call, maybe the Captiva’s replacement.
I wouldn’t exactly call it “new” and the styling is well beyond conservative. If this is the answer to Jeep’s Renegade then I think GM may come off second best.
Terrible styling alone will kill this thing. Reminds me of a cross between an HHR and an Aztek. Why is the gauge cluster so small? Are they trying to say “cheap”?
Ah but terrible styling didn’t kill its cousin the Encore. If anything they should strive to make this Trax even more offensive to the eye.
The demand for this type of vehicle, and Chevrolet’s extensive dealer network, should make the Trax a success.
A lot of vehicles in this class aren’t exactly beauty queens. One of its main competitors will be the Nissan Juke.
I see the HHR in the front clip – had the same thought.
Aztek?!?!
You need your eyes examined.
The Encore is the best seller in its class and has other makers now rushing out subcompact CUVs into the niche. Have you actually sat in an Encore?
You’re also forgetting the success of the Nissan Juke.
Yay! Another boring egg shaped CUV. I personally wouldn’t mind owning one with it’s taller seating, small size and good fuel economy, but this will be lost in a sea of other egg shaped equally boring crossovers. People who care more about impressing their friends & co-workers will pass. The Encore being a place holder (from an inside source) until the Anthem arrives, GM should have just made the GMC Granite off the same platform. It has lots of character and better prospects as a unique stand out trucklet.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrwcVvVjRoM/TkLMVyrsxyI/AAAAAAAAABg/zNouqcSpVMw/s1600/Gmc-granite–concept-suv.jpg
Chevy doesn’t have to compete in every possible segment. Make the Captiva available to retail buyers if you want to sell a sub $18,000 CUV. The segment for a trax sized car is too small and will soon be too crowded.
This “place holder” is definitely holding it’s own on the luxury level:
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1402-2013-buick-encore-awd-vs-bmw-x1-xdrive28i-comparison/?fullsite=true
I like the Renegade more, it’s a bit more butch.
…and 10% more faux tough by volume.
Faux tough beats no tough, IMO.
They both espouse faux tough, but I’ll take the “Jeep” for basic 4wd type capability over the “Chevrolet”.
It’s also a lot more capable.
Why does this thing look so much like the old Saturn Vue with its tail chopped off?
That’s my thought as well…
Both Opels.
First the Sonata, now the Trax, featured in orange. A new color trend perhaps?
The previous generation of Escape was available in a shade of orange similar to this one.
The orange available on the Dodge Dart is much brighter.
Orange as a launch color has been used for years by a number of makers.
This car has already been on sale in Brazil for a while. It hasn’t exactly lit up the sales chart, but it faces a couple of challenges here. Its main competitors are the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster. Comparing to those 2 it’s more expensive and very light in content for the LT. The LTZ has everything and then some, but it’s very pricey.
It looks much bigger than it really is. It’s a bit smaller inside than even the Fiesta-based EcoSport. Another problem is that the trunk is the smallest of the trio.
The positives are the big looks, a nice ride, simple but well done interior with a good design. I would say that if you’re in the market for this kind of car, it’s definitely worth a look.
As Derek will know, those of us north of the 49 have been blessed with these automotive abortions for some time now.
These subcompact CUV/SUVs seem to be filling a niche in the market. I think Buick actually got to a market niche slightly ahead of the game and was able to be a significant player in it. And now Chevrolet is following in thier footsteps to capitalize on this boom. Which is a smart move to make money and keep shareholders happy.
The Countryman was there first, but perhaps the Buick was at a better price point, and the Traxx even more so.
It seems that buyers out there want the ride hieght of an SUV, but without the heavy gas consumption of an SUV or even a CUV. We will see more of these in the marketplace as baby boomers used to a diet of Ford Explorers and Grand Cherokees and the like downsize as kids move away, move into urban areas, and have a harder time getting into and out of a SUV that might be too high up, or a regular car that might be too low.
Be cheaper and easier to offer user configurable suspension on more fuel efficient cars but then that’s too sensible and wouldn’t be whiz bang new in order to sell to the proles.